January 2026

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Embracing 2026: Adaptability, Innovation and Investments

In 2025, U.S. manufacturers found themselves in uncharted waters, grappling with trade uncertainty, rising costs and an increasingly complex global landscape.

As we move into 2026, change and opportunity are on the horizon. Insights from the Deloitte 2026 Manufacturing Industry Outlook point to several critical areas manufacturers should be watching in the year ahead:

• Smart manufacturing investments: 92% of surveyed manufacturing executives agree that smart manufacturing initiatives will be the primary driver of competitiveness. These efforts include expanded adoption of automation, data analytics, sensors, cloud computing and agentic AI, technologies reshaping how manufacturers operate and scale.

• Supply chain complexity: Trade uncertainty remains the top concern for surveyed manufacturers, with 78% citing it as a key challenge. While pressures may persist in 2026, continued investment in smart digital technologies can help manufacturers increase resilience, improve visibility and mitigate risk.

• Incentives for growth sectors: U.S. policy implemented in 2025 reinforced support for domestic manufacturing, particularly in high-growth sectors such as data centers and semiconductor production. Notably, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act increased the advanced manufacturing investment credit from 25% to 35%, strengthening incentives for investment in U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturing.

At M3 Chicago, we’re committed to helping manufacturers navigate this evolving landscape by connecting you to timely resources, timely insights and industry-driven events. Want to see how M3 Chicago is building programs that empower your business? Click here to learn more.

3rd Annual Illinois Government Contracting Summit

Interested in unlocking new growth and leveraging government contracting?

Manufacturers are invited to join this invaluable event on March 17 providing contracting opportunities and details from:

• Federal agencies: U.S. Department of Defense (all branches), Department of Energy, NASA, Veterans Affairs, FAA and more.

• Prime contractors: Accenture, Caterpillar, Deloitte, General Dynamics, Parsons, Walsh Federal, Raytheon, along with others

• State & local entities: State of Illinois, Cook County, City of Chicago and additional municipalities.

• Small business financing: Access U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs, private financing and defense venture capital initiatives.

• Innovation hubs: DEFENSEWERX, Fast Center at UIUC, Innovation DuPage and ARI.

Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your government contracting strategy and expand your professional network. Register by January 31, 2026, to take advantage of early bird pricing with a special 2-for-1 ticket offer.

Argonne National Laboratory’s Materials Manufacturing Innovation Center (MMIC) invites you to a town hall on its campus to share your perspective and help shape the national priority areas for their 2026–2030 National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing. This plan guides federal efforts to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of U.S. manufacturing.

Join the Calumet Area Industrial Commission for this informative webinar designed to help commercial property owners use natural gas more effectively while reducing operating costs. Guest speakers from Nicor Gas and Peoples Gas will share information on available programs tailored for industry.

Join TMA for a focused breakfast briefing covering critical federal and state tax updates. These changes can impact business cash flow and growth, so be sure to stay in the know. Attendees will leave with practical insights to help optimize their tax planning and stay ahead of upcoming changes in 2026.

Join Next Street for a webinar bringing together experts from government, industry, and the small business ecosystem for a forward-looking discussion on the state of U.S. industrial transformation in 2026. Speakers will explore emerging macroeconomic and geopolitical trends, the rollout of major federal policy like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the lessons regions are learning as they attempt to accelerate industrial capacity.

Do you want to implement automation within your business? This webinar hosted by IMEC helps manufacturers learn how to define automation opportunities with precision, clarity and impact. Participants will leave with a repeatable method for scoping automation projects that truly solve production problems.